REVIEW BY LLOYD WAKELING
Anything I say about Paul Weller, has in essence, already been said, written and expressed in some form or another, but it is only right that I add my little bit because, well, I can!
An artist who defies being placed in any sort of box, whether it be age or musical genre, Weller has made himself the being he is by taking those very things and tossing them up into the air and watching them fall, only to kick them around when they do. Iconic, brilliant musically in lyric and instrument and a man beset by his strength in his message, whether that message is political, romantic or just plainly about life.
Decades of anger, loving and angst have tarmacked his musical road with song after song, becoming the symphonies we all fall back on as a memory, a friend and yes, even those we dislike. It is always difficult to critique such a man without spewing superlative after superlative, because his music displays a life that captures all of us too, allowing us to get closer to our own thoughts without transcribing them, yet understanding them because he is one of us, troubled, happy, despairing, all of it.
Days of Speed has been re-issued. Days of Speed with its acoustic sensibility, allows us to live in the lyrical world of Mr Weller much more intimately and reminds me of those buskers peddling their wares on the streets of any city we care to live in.
After listening to this album again, I wouldn’t hesitate in going back over his many albums and further explore all that makes this man a British icon and legend.
10/10
DAY OF SPEED TRACKLISTING
Days Of Speed
Side A
Brand New Start
The Loved
Out Of The Sinking
Clues
Side B
English Rose
Above The Clouds
You Do Something To Me
Amongst Butterflies
FOLLOW PAUL WELLER
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
